Monthly Archives: April 2011

This post is part of a new series I’m doing called “Breaking the Chain”. Check out previous broken chains like White Elephant and Rúla Búla.

There is absolutely nothing going on in my life since I’ve gotten back from Tucson. I LOVE it this way! I can finally catch up with my life, my sleep, and my EATS! My latest “break in the chain” is Parkview Cafe: a teeny tiny cafe located in the teeny tiny town of Newbury Park, California. I found this place while driving around in a glazed-over oblivion, desperate for some caffeine and brunch.It seems very unassuming at first: located in a tiny strip mall next to a gym and a *gasp*TRADER JOE’S! (Already a bonus in my book!)I ordered a soy chai. It came in a CERAMIC MUG!!! I haven’t gotten a chai/coffee/morning beverage in a ceramic mug since… I can’t remember when! It made me feel like I was sitting on the cozy sofa of a local coffee shop. Oh wait, I was! Let’s take a closer look…SO PRETTY! Possibly the most delicious chai I’ve ever had. I wholeheartedly believe that ambiance truly adds to the enjoyment of food and beverages. Too bad I forgot to take pictures of the ambiance… The food was just THAT good!I ordered the breakfast burrito. Simple, right? WRONG! This is, without a doubt, the BEST breakfast burrito I’ve ever had! I’m not sure what the owner, Abe, does to make this so amazing. Raw tortillas? Magic spices? The breath of angels? Whatever it is, I will NEVER be able to order a breakfast burrito from another restaurant without being disappointed. The intense combination of savory egg, rich sausage, saffron-scented potatoes, spicy and sweet salsa, plus whatever heavenly secrets they add make this worth the excursion. I can’t express it any more – this breakfast burrito tops any breakfast burrito you will EVER CONSUME! Disagree? Try it, then call me for a debate.

There are no other pictures. The homemade chai in a ceramic cup and the magic breakfast burrito top any other brunch I’ve eaten, and I have tried a LOT! This is one place you’ll be happy you went out of your way to try!

Tell Abe that Becki sent you. I would be proud to become a regular here!

I was so close!I filled it out and brought it in. I sat down across from my manager and pulled it out. Then she stopped me.

Seriously. She said, “I can make this work!” and proceeded to show me the many, many ways I can design my own schedule, work as little as two days a month and keep my discount. I didn’t care. Then she said, “I don’t want to lose you.”

Aaaaaaah, why am I such a people-pleaser? Why do I cave when I’m complimented? I agreed.

Since I only half quit, I half celebrated with a glass of rosé. Half red, half white.

I want to introduce you to someone very, very special to me.This is Wanda. Kind of like Wind, but Wand, and with an A at the end. Also named after a character in The Host. I’m a geek. In all seriousness though, if not for Wanda, I probably would have died from heatstroke from this show. The temperatures have been in the high 90s, and I think Tucson is trying to kill me. I’m not paranoid – or if I am, it’s from heat stroke.Luckily I’ve found places that serve air conditioning. Bonus – they ALSO serve food! I’ve been frequenting my favorite little Tucson restaurant – Cafe Passe. Seriously, I’ve probably been in this place about fifteen times over the past 24 hours. Their air conditioning is that good. Oh yeah, and so is their food!I also stumbled across this little almost gem – Magpies. Yes, they are a pizza joint. Yes, I am off of dairy for Lent. YES, they serve cheese-free pizza!!!Wait a second, that’s not pizza! That’s a beer! WHOA! Did you guys catch that? SanTan’s Hopshock to be exact. Me gusta the hops.THAT’S a pizza! Kind of… I got the mini pizza with pesto, roasted lemon garlic chicken, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes. They forgot the pine nuts. The sundried tomatoes were burnt. They made me a new one. The pine nuts were still missing. The sundried tomatoes were still burnt. Bummers.

Post-pizza I went out on the town. ME? OUT? On a Friday night??? Oh my geez, calm down, it’s true! Had a fun date: played pool, drank quality beer and finally got back to the hotel around 2am. I’m ca-razy like that!

I’m also functioning on 15 hours of sleep over the last three days. I think I’ll pass out now. At 10:30pm. On a Saturday night. You know why? Cause I’m ca-razy like that!